Tree Peony. Part 2. Reproduction

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

In reproduction, the tree peony is complex and demanding. Blooming in May - June, bears fruit in September. Only a fifth of the seeds emerge without special treatments, and only 2% of the cuttings take root. Reproduction of a peony is possible in 5 ways: by seeds, branches, dividing the bush, grafting and grafting. Peony is planted only in high, well-drained beds. The tree-like peony does not like excessive moisture; it dies in swampy soils

Cuttings

it is extremely rarely used for propagation of a tree peony, since less than five out of a hundred cuttings take root.

Seed propagation

Seeds are planted in September, immediately after ripening. To obtain a good result, the seeds must be stratified. Planted in moistened sand, the seeds are cooled to 18 ° C for 6-7 hours, the rest of the time the temperature is brought closer to 30 ° C, this continues until January-February, until the first roots appear. Then the sand with seeds is placed in a stable cool temperature (basement or refrigerator) until the first leaf appears, in practice this is May. After the appearance of the leaf, the plant is exposed to the open air until August. In August, the peony is ready for planting in open ground. For the winter, the plant is covered with hay, sawdust. The first flowers will appear after 4-5 years.

Reproduction by branches

There are two types of bends: earthen and air.

- Air outlet it is done in the spring, when it is already warm, but there are no buds yet. The shoot is incised, treated with rooting stimulants, then it is wrapped in moss (for example, sphagnum) and is tightly fixed on top with a film. After about 3 months, the film is removed, the shoot is cut off under the roots and planted.

- Ground outlet done in the same way with the first heat. The outer shoot, incised and treated with rooting stimulants, is folded back and tightly attached with a hairpin to the ground. The top is covered with a layer (approximately 15 cm) of fertilized soil and watered regularly. In the fall, the rooted shoot is cut off from the bush and planted in the right place.

Graft

Peony grafting occurs in two ways of incision: wedge-shaped incision and lateral. There is no significant difference in the methods. A peony is grafted to the root of a tree-like peony, as well as to the root of a herbaceous peony, the main thing is that the thickness of the scion does not differ from the thickness of the stock. The length of the stock is enough 15 cm, and the cutting should be young, of the given year. The ideal time for vaccinations is mid-August. The stock is tightly combined with the scion, coated with garden varnish, wrapped with cling film. The leaves on the scion break off so that the power of the plant goes only to the fusion of the grafting. Then the grafted plant is planted in a greenhouse without sunlight, and in October it is planted in a permanent place. Also, before planting, you can give the plants a rest, folding them horizontally in sawdust, cover tightly on top with sawdust as well and water for three weeks. Rested plants are then planted in the soil, at least one bud should be underground for better root formation.

Dividing the bush

The division of the bush is carried out at the age of over five years. A less traumatic bush way is

long division … In the first year, from time to time, the bush hides, gradually rises to a height of 10 cm, in the second year, the height rises to 25 cm. In the second year, a young shoot appears, and by autumn it takes root. In early spring, while the plant is still sleeping, the shoot is dug up, separated from the mother bush and planted in a permanent place.

Fast way easier, but it is worth considering the moment that with this method the entire bush is injured. The whole bush is dug up, and the roots are thoroughly washed with water. Bare roots are carefully examined and divided in the thinnest places so that the injured area is as small as possible. The cut lines are processed with garden varnish and the plants are planted in permanent places.

Reproduction of a tree peony is difficult and time consuming, but well worth it. Let me remind you that tree peonies, with proper care, live for hundreds of years and literally become part of the family. I am already 30, and in my yard there is a tree-like peony bush that bloomed in spring, when my mother met my dad … This is part of the story, the story of my life. This bush was planted by my grandmother, I saw my parents' wedding, I know my children … He is a mute witness to the change of generations.